>> Bill: KENTUCKY'S CORONAVIRUS DEATHS TOP 3,000 AS THE VACCINE ROLL-OUT GETS REVAM THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS WOULD BE CURTAILED BY A BILL THAT SAILED THROUGH THE LEGISLA A COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER A PETITION CALLING FOR THE IMPEACHMENT OF GOVERNOR BESHEAR AND FOR A STATE HOUSE MEMBER.

IN WASHINGTON, KENTUCKY GUARD MEMBERS WILL HELP SECURE THE INAUGURATION AND AN IMPEACHMENT TRIAL WILL COME AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP LEAVES OFFICE.

A COLD JANUARY WIND BLOWS OUT THERE, AND "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

KENTUCKY'S CORONAVIRUS GOOD EVENING.

I'M BILL BRYANT, AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY," A LOOK BACK AT THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND SOME ANALYSIS.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT AR MORGAN WATKINS, CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE COURIER-JOURNA.

WE THANK HER FOR A QUICK RETURN TONIGHT.

LAWRENCE SMITH, REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.

AND JOHN CHEVES, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

tONIGHT, SECURITY IS TIGHT EVEN IN FRANKFORT AHEAD OF NEXT WEEK'S INAUGURATION.

BUT FIRST, THE COVID-19 NUMBERS KEEP CLIMBING, AND KENTUCKY IS WAY BEHIND WHERE OFFICIALS HAD HOPED TO BE AT THIS POINT.

THERE'S CONFUSION ABOUT WHERE PEOPLE ARE ON THE LIST.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS ATTEMPTING TO GIVE SOME CLARITY.

THIS IS WHAT HE SAID ABOUT SCHOOL PERSONNEL.

>> TODAY WE CAN ANNOUNCE THAT WE BELIEVE THAT WE WILL HAVE ALL OF THE K-12 PERSONNEL THAT AGREED TO BE VACCINATED THROUGH THEIR FIRST SHOT OF VACCINATION BY THE END OF THAT WEEK WE SAID WE'D START, FEBRUARY THE 1st.

>> Bill: MORGAN, EVERYBODY WANTS THIS TO GO FASTER.

LET'S TALK WITH THE CHANGES BEING MADE.

THERE'S THISRY.

WITH KROGER AND JUST OFF HIS SUCCESS DOING THAT FIX OF THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE, THE TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY JIM GRAY PUT IN CHARGE OF GETTING THE SHOTS OUT QUICKER.

>> Morgan: RIGHT, ABSOLUTELY.

A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR MADE THIS WEEK WAS THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH KROGER, SO THE PLAN IS TO OPEN UP THESE REGIONAL DRIVE-THROUGH SITES WHERE PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO GO AND GET THEIR VACCINES.

THOSE KIND OF REGIONAL SITES THAT CROWING SER GOING TO BE HELPING SET UP START THE FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY SO REALLY SOON AND THEY'RE EXPECTING YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO STEAL START SIGNING UP TO GET AN APPOINTMENT TO BE VACS MADE BY LIKE JANUARY 28th.

NESS GOING TO OPEN UP THE AVAILABILITY OF THE VACCINE IN A BIG WAY.

BASICALLY ONCE THE KROGER SITE OPENS UP IN FEBRUARY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ANYBODY IN THE FIRST MAIN THREE PHASES, SO ANYBODY OVER 60, ANYBODY WHO IS 16 OR OLDER AND HAS A HIGH-RISK CONDITION, AND THEN BEAM WHO ARE CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL WORKERS, WHICH IS A VERY BROAD LIST OF FOLKS.

SO THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, THIS REALLY IS A TIME THAT'S HARD TO MAKE VERY BROAD STATEMENTS ABOUT THE VACCINATION EFFORT OUT THERE BECAUSE IT HAS TURNED INTO A PATCHWORK.

THERE'S THE AVAILABILITY, WHICH IS DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE, WILLINGNESS TO TAKE VACCINE DIFFERS, AND THERE ARE COUNTIES THAT ARE AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN WHERE THEY ARE ON THOSE PRIORITY LISTS, RIGHT?

>> Lawrence: WELL, RIGHT.

I MEAN, THESE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS HAVE QUIET BIT OF AUTONOMY, AND AS YOU SAID DISTRIBUTION CAN BE OUT OF ORDER DEPENDING ON HOW MANY DOSES YOU HAVE, HOW MANY IN YOUR COMMUNITY ACTUALLY CAN'T THE VACCINE.

IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER YOU'RE DOING IT BY APPOINTMENT ONLY OR A THRIVE-THROUGH IRE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.

THERE ARE MANY VARIABLES OUT THERE THAT COULD AFFECT THE ORDER IN WHICH THESE VACCINES, VACCINATIONS ARE GIVEN.

>> Bill: WE UNDERSTAND THE VA IS MAKING MOVES TO TRY TO OPEN UP CLINICS EVEN THIS WEEKEND AND HAVE THIS WEEK IN THE LOUISVILLE AREA, I THINK.

>> Lawrence: THAT'S RIGHT.

IN FACT, MY DAD WAS AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE SO, YEAH, THE VA IS ALREADY DOING A DRIVE-THROUGH VACCINATION AT A FACILITY IN LOUISVILLE.

>> Bill: THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR.

JOHN, INSTITUTIONAL OUTBREAKS HAVE CONTINUED TO BE A HUGE CHALLENGE HERE IN THE STATE.

THERE IS A PRISON WITH HALF OF ITS INMATES AFFECTED WITH COVID.

>> John: THAT'S TRUE.

THE STATE PRISON IN MORGAN COUNTY, IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

IT'S CALLED EASTERN KENTUCKY CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX.

IT'S GOT ABOUT 1500 INMATES, AND ON WEDNESDAY THE STATE REPORTED THAT MORE THAN 700 OF THE INMATES OR HALF THEM WERE ACTIVELY INFECTED WITH COVID WANTS WERE 80 OF THE PRIS' EMPLOYEES, AND THAT'S JUST A HUGE OUTBREAK.

IT MIGHT BE THE BIGGEST COVID OUTBREAK IN A KENTUCKY PRISON THAT I CAN REMEMBER THE TEN MONTHS THAT WE'VE BEEN SUFFERING THROUGH THIS.

AND TWO OTHER PRISONS, STATE PRISONS IN OLD HAM COUNTY AT THE SAME TIME HAD 300 INMATES ACTIVELY INFECTED ON WEDNESDAY.

IT'S BEEN TERRIBLE.

WE'VE GOT 39 STATE PRISON INMATES WHO HAVE DIED SO FAR, AS HAVE FIVE STATE PRISON EMPLOYEES, AND THE FEDERAL PRISONS IN KENTUCKY, 16 INMATES HAVE DIED.

I KNOW I'VE HEARD ABOUT SEVERAL DEATHS IN THE LOCAL JAILS AS WELL.

I'M STILL STUDYING THAT A BIT.

THE FEDERAL AND STATE PRISON OFFICIALS SAY THEY DO WHAT THEY CAN.

THEY'RE DOING TESTING.

THEY TRIED TO SEGREGATE THE INMATES WHO TEST POSITIVE OR WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO KEEP THEM SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE POPULATION.

THEY'RE TRYING TO WEAR MASKS AND DO CLEANING.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE INCARCERATED, WHEN YOU'RE BEHIND BARS, THERE'S NO WAY TO SOCIALLY DISTANCE AND IT'S ALMOST INEVITABLE WHEN AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE GETS IN THERE THAT IT'S GOING TO SPREAD.

>> Bill: AND THE STAFF MEMBERS COME AND GO FROM THE FACILITY, OBVIOUSLY.

THEY GO HOME AFTER THEIR SHIFTS, AND IN SOME CASES MAYBE BRINGING IT IN, IN OTHER CASING IT OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY RIGHT?

>> John: THEY DO.

VISITATION HAS BEEN CLOSED.

IT'S BEEN SHUT DOWN AT THE PRISONS SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN LAST SPRING.

AT THIS POINT THE ONLY WAY THE KEICER VIRUS COULD BE GETTING INTO THE PRISONS IS UNWITTINGLY THROUGH THE EMPLOYEES.

AND COMING OUT IS TOO.

IN A VERY RURAL COMMUNITY, IF YOU'VE GOT EIGHT PRISON EMPLOYEES WHO ARE INFECTED, THAT HAS A VERY DAMAGING AFFECT ON THE COMMUNITY AND ITS PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> Bill: WE'LL SEE IF THIS VACCINATION EFFORT CAN GET RAMPED UP.

PANDEMIC POLICY WAS FRONT AND CENTER IN FRANKFORT IN THE OPENING DAYS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

THE REPUBLICANS WHO LEAD IT PASSED SENATE AND HOUSE BILLS DESIGNED TO RESTRICT THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWER.

THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE AND SOMETIMES FIERCE FLOOR DEBATE.

>> THIS IS A GOVERNOR THAT HAS NO COMMUNICATION, WHO MOCKS THE CITIZENS OF THE COMMONWEALTH AND WHO IS DISMISSIVE OTHERS, WHO DOESN'T BUILD CONSENSUS, IS UNWILLING TO EVEN LISTEN TO OPINIONS OPPOSITE OF HIS OWN.

ON NOVEMBER THE 3rd, THE CITIZENS LET THIS GOVERNOR KNOW HOW THEY FELT ABOUT HIS APPROACH TO GOVERNMENT.

THE CITIZENS INFORMED US, THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, THAT THEY WANTED STABILITY AND PREDICTABILITY.

>> IF THAT HAPPENS AND ALL WE HAVE IS THE CDC GUIDELINES OR NOTHING FROM THE EXECUTIVE, THEN THAT WOULD SUGGEST TO ME, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT WE'RE BACK TO THE WILD, WILD WEST WHERE PEOPLE CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT BECAUSE THERE IS NO EXECUTIVE GUIDANCE AT ALL.

>> Bill: LARGE EVER LAWRENCE, REPUBLICANS SAY THIS WILL SIMPLY MAKE GOVERNORS MORE ACCOUNTABLE GOING FORWARD.

THE DEMOCRATS, INCLUDING GOVERNOR BESHEAR, SAY THIS STANDS IN THE WAY OF POLICIES THAT ARE SAVING LIVES.

>> Lawrence: WELL, YOU HEARD THE TWO ARGUMENTS THERE AND YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

REPUBLICANS HAVE NOT BEEN HAPPY WITH THE WAY GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS COMMUNICATED OR NOT COMMUNICATED WITH THEM DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

AND THESE BILLS THAT THEY'VE PASSED ARE DESIGNED TO RESTRICT OR REGULATE HIS POWER TO ISSUE EMERGENCY ORDERS.

SENATE BILL 1, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD RESTRICT THESE ORDERS TO 30 DAYS UNLESS THEY'RE RENEWED BY THE LEGISLATURE.

SO THESE ARE DESIGNED TO, AS THEY SAY, HOLD THE GOVERNOR ACCOUNTABLE, GET THE LEGISLATURE INVOLVED, BUT, OF COURSE, DEMOCRATS, INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR, SAY THAT THESE POWERS ARE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO MOVE QUICKLY, CHANGE DIRECTION QUICKLY, AND GET THIS VIRUS AND OTHER EMERGENCY SITUATIONS UNDER CONTROL, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT ALWAYS IN SESSION.

>> Bill: SO AS WE TRY TO CONTINUE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY WOULD CHANGE, SENATE BILL 2 REQUIRES REGULATIONS TO BE APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE AFTER 30 DAYS.

SENATOR STEVE WEST SPONSORED THAT.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A CONSENSUS, LATEST AMONG THE LAWMAKERS THAT I HAVE TALKED WITH, ESPECIALLY IN LEADERSHIP, THAT THE MASK MANDATE WOULD PROBABLY SURVIVE, LAWRENCE, BUT WHAT ELSE MIGHT CHANGE IF THE LEGISLATURE ASSUMES MORE CONTROL OF THE POLICIES?

>> Lawrence: THAT'S INTERESTING IN A WAY BECAUSE THE MASK MANDATE HAS BEEN THE ONE THAT HAS IRRITATED SO MANY PEOPLE, BUT OBVIOUSLY I THINK IT'S A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT.

BUT IT COULD BE ANY NUMBER OF THINGS.

IT COULD BE ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS.

IT COULD BE BUSINESS REGULATIONS, ANY NUMBER OF THINGS THAT THE LEGISLATURE WOULD THEN HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER, THESE REGULATIONS THAT THE GOVERNOR PUTS IN PLACE IN EMERGENCIES.

>> Bill: YOU MADE THE POINT THAT SCHOOLS AS WELL IS AN AREA OF ATTENTION.

>> Morgan: YES.

I SPOKE WITH SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS EARLIER THIS WEEK, AND HE HAD SAID THAT THE ISSUE OF SCHOOLS AND THE ABILITY TO HOLD IN-PERSON CLASSES WOULD PROBABLY, HE THINKS, BE THEIR TOP PRIORITY IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT HOW THAT'S REGULATED.

HE MENTIONED FEELING THAT THAT IS A DECISION THAT SHOULD BE MADE BY LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.

OF COURSE, WE HAVE SEEN A COUPLE OF INSTANCES MOST RECENTLY IN LATE NOVEMBER WHEN GOVERNOR BESHEAR ORDERED A HALT, A TEMPORARY HALT TO IN-PERSON CLASSES IN K-12 SCHOOLS ALTHOUGH THAT HAS BEEN LIFTED THIS MONTH.

AND THIS IS ALL HAPPENING AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF BIG SPIKE IN CASES AND DEATH.

ONE OF OUR REPORTERS, DEBORAH YETTER, POINTED OUT IN A STORY SHE RAN THIS WEEK, IT TOOK KENTUCKY SIX MONTHS TO GET TO 1,000 DEATHS.

IT TOOK.

3,000.

AND IT TOOK SIX WEEKS TO BLOW PAST THE 3,000 DEATHS MARK OF.

THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT I THINK IN MIND HOUSE SUPERIOR COURT DAVID OSBORNE MENTIONED, THAT DEALING WITH REGULATIONS TAKES SOME THOUGHT.

SO IT SEEMS LIKE, YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE STUFF TO BALANCE.

>> Bill: AND THERE'S SOME PERSPECTIVE.

JOHN, THE GOVERNOR'S NOT ACTED ON THESE BILLS AUTHORITY HIS DESK RIGHT NOW, BUT HE SURE HASN'T STEPPED AWAY FROM OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK ABOUT HOW BAD HE THINKS THEY ARE.

>> John: THAT'S CORRECT.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR, OF COURSE, SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD AN AFTERNOON PRESS CONFERENCE MOST DAYS TELEVISED MUCH OF THE TIME OR AT LEAST AVAILABLE ONLINE ON YOUTUBE AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND HE DOESN'T JUST TALK ABOUT THE VIRUS NOW.

HE TALKS ABOUT HIS VIEWS OF WHAT THE LEGISLATURE IS DOING.

WE TALKS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF HIM, AND HE CRITICIZES THEM RIGHT BACK.

IT'S BECOME SORT OF A DAILY BULLY PULPIT FOR HIM, AND I THINK IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE, CERTAINLY FOR AS LONG AS THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION THIS WINTER.

>> Bill: SO WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THOSE POTENTIAL CHANGES.

IMPEACHMENT.

IT'S THE WORD OF THE WEEK IN WASHINGTON AND IN FRANKFORT.

THERE IS A PETITION TO IMPEACH GOVERNOR BESHEAR.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER DAMON THAYER TOLD ME TODAY THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY IDEA HOW FAR THAT WILL GO.

HE ACKNOWLEDGES, THOUGH, THAT IT MAY HAVE SURPRISED KENTUCKIANS THAT FOUR PEOPLE COULD PRESENT A PETITION THAT SETS OFF AN INQUIRY LIKE THIS.

SO, LAWRENCE, WHERE IS THAT HEADED?

>> Lawrence: FIRST OF ALL, YES, THAT IS TRUE.

ANYBODY, ANY CITIZEN CAN FILE A PETITION ON MOST ANY ALLEGED ILLEGAL ACTIVITY OR ANY ACTIVITY, AND FILE A PETITION THAT WAY.

WHERE IT GOES, WELL, RIGHT NOW THERE ARE TWO PETITIONS OUT THERE, ONE AGAINST GOVERNOR BESHEAR ALLEGING THAT HIS EXECUTIVE ORDERS DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC ARE ILLEGAL.

THE SECOND AGAINST REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GOFORTH, A REPUBLICAN FROM EASTERN KENTUCKY ACCUSED OF DOMESTIC ABUSE.

SO THOSE WERE FILED WITHIN DAYS OF EACH OTHER.

THEY'RE RIGHT NOW IN AN IMPEACHMENT COMMITTEE.

AND I'VE TALKED TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THAT COMMITTEE, REPRESENTATIVE JASON NEMES OF LOUISVILLE, AND HE SAID THEY'LL TAKE THOSE UP NEXT WEEK.

WE HAVE A LOT OF DECISIONS TO MAKE, INCLUDING WHETHER IT'S EVEN LEGAL TO IMPEACH A SITTING MEMBER OF THE HOUSE.

A PAST SUPREME COURT RULING MAY INDICATE THAT THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE, THAT PERHAPS THAT PERSON COULD BE REMOVED ONLY BY A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF THE HOUSE.

SO THOSE KIND OF QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ANSWERED.

AND IN THE MEANTIME, SINCE IT'S SO EASY TO FILE A PETITION FOR IMPEACHMENT PETITION IN KENTUCKY, THERE ARE SOME WHO HAVE INCREASINGLY ARE CONCERNED THAT IT'S GOING TO BECOME A KIND OF A POLITICAL WEAPON IN THE FUTURE, ESPECIALLY TODAY'S DIVIDE TIMES.

>> Bill: AND IN THIS TIME WHERE YOU HAVE THE GOVERNOR, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RUN TOGETHER PRESUMABLY HAVE THE SAME STANCES ON MOST ISSUES.

IF A GOVERNOR WAS REMOVED, NOT A LOT WOULD CHANGE FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT, RIGHT?

>> Lawrence: THAT'S TRUE.

YOU WOULD THINK NOT.

BUT I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A VERY, VERY LONG SHOT THAT THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO BE REMOVED.

THE SUPREME COURT, HE POINTS OUT, HAS ALREADY RULED THAT THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS ARE LEGAL.

SO THE QUESTION IS HOW LONG THIS WILL BE DRAGGED OUT, WHETHER THERE WILL BE HEARINGS AND HOW FAR THE COMMITTEE WILL TAKE THIS.

>> Bill: JOHN, LAWRENCE MADE REFERENCE TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GOFORTH WHO HAS PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO THOSE CHARGES.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN LAUREL COUNTY INVESTIGATING CAN'T FIND SOME COVID NOW.

>> John: THAT'S TRUE.

REPRESENTATIVE GOFORTH IS UNDER INDICTMENT, SO HE WOULD FACE A TRIAL AT SOME POINT.

THE THE LAUREL COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SEEMS TO HAVE MISPLACED THE DIGITAL RECORDING OF ITS INTERVIEW WITH MRS. GOFORTH, MR. GOFORTH'S WIFE.

SHE GAVE AN INTERVIEW WHERE SHE TALKED ABOUT THE ALLEGED STRANGLING INCIDENT THAT LED TO HIS ARREST INTO THE CHARGES.

THE EMPLOYEE WHO HAD POSSESSION OF THE INTERVIEW LEFT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WENT TO ANOTHER JOB, AND NOW THEY CAN'T FIND WHERE THE RECORDING IS.

IF THEY CAN'T, IT'S GOING TO BE A SERIOUS ISSUE.

IT WAS A KEY PIECE OF EVIDENCE.

THIS CAME OUT IN COURT PAPERS THIS WEEK.

>> Bill: AND THE GOFORTHS SAY THEY HAVE RECONCILED.

HIS WIFE HAS ASKED THAT THE CHARGES BE DROPPED.

HE WAS RE-ELECTED, WHAT, BY A WIDE MARGIN.

>> John: 70% OF THE VOTE, RIGHT, EVEN WITH THE CHARGES PENDING AGAINST HIM.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THERE WAS AN IMPEACHMENT IN WASHINGTON.

THE U.S. HOUSE MADE DONALD TRUMP THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO BE IMPEACHED TWICE.

AND, LAWRENCE, KENTUCKY'S HOUSE DELEGATION SPLIT ALONG PARTY LINES ON THAT.

>> Lawrence: SURE.

ALL REPUBLICANS OPPOSING THE IMPEACHMENT RESOLUTION, AND CONGRESSMAN JOHN YARMOUTH, THE ONLYD IN DELEGATION, APPROVING IT.

THE REPUBLICANS ALL KIND OF HAD THE SAME THING.

ONE, THAT THIS IS RUSHED ALONG, THAT THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO BE OUT OF OFFICE THIS WEEK ANYWAY, AND THAT THIS WILL DELAY UNIFYING THE COUNTRY.

THAT WOULD BE THEIR MAIN MESSAGE.

YARMOUTH, OF COURSE, SAYS THE PRESIDENT MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER HE'S IN OFFICE.

IF HE IS IMPEACHED AND CONVICTED, HE WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO RUN FOR OFFICE IN THE FUTURE.

SO THAT'S IMPORTANT TO DEMOCRATS.

>> Bill: MORGAN, SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL SAYS HE WILL AWAIT THE EVIDENCE TO DECIDE HOW HE WILL VOTE ON IMPEACHMENT, BUT HE IS APPARENTLY GOING TO SET THE SENATE TRIAL IT.

LOOKS LIKE EVEN THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT WON'T DELIVERED UNTIL RIGHT AROUND THE INAUGURATION, SO OBVIOUSLY THE TRIAL WILL COME AFTER THAT.

BUT WHAT IS THIS MOMENT LIKE FOR SENATOR McCONNELL WHO IS NOW SHIFTING FROM THE MAJORITY LEADER TO MINORITY LEADER?

AND THEN DEALING WITH THIS ALL AT THE SAME TIME?

>> Morgan: I MEAN WEBSITES AN INTENSE TIME.

I MEAN, HE WAS IN THE CAPITOL LAST WEEK WHEN THE RIOT BROKE OUT THAT LED TO MULTIPLE DEATHS.

I MEAN, HE AND OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WERE EVACUATED DURING THAT.

SO YOU GO FROM THAT TO NOW THIS IMPEACHMENT IS CENTERED ON THAT RIOT, AND PRESIDENT TRUMP IS CHARGED IN THIS IMPEACHMENT WITH INCITING THAT INSURRECTION.

AND McCONNELL HIMSELF HAS USED THAT TERMINOLOGY.

HE'S CALLED WHAT HAPPENED A FAILED INSURRECTION.

AND SO NOW EVEN AS HE SHIFTS INTO THE MINORITY LEADER POSITION WHEN JOE BIDEN IS INAUGURATED NEXT WEEK HE'S STILL GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF POWER IN THE SENATE AND HE'S STILL GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF INFLUENCE AS THE LEADER OF THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

I MEAN, HE'S DEFINITELY GOT A LOT OF INTENSE PRESSURE ON HIM, I'M SURE, AND A LOT OF FOCUS ON WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO.

SO FAR ONE BIG DIFFERENCE HAS BEEN THE FIRST IMPEACHMENT THAT WE SAW, HE WAS A VERY STRONG DEFERRED OF THE PRESIDENT IN TERMS OF SAYING, YOU KNOW, VERY VOCAL ABOUT THINKING THAT THE IMPEACHMENT WAS NOT APPROPRIATE, VERY VOCAL ABOUT SAYING, I'M NOT GOING TO LET THIS HAPPEN.

THIS TIME AROUND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT HE HASN'T MADE UP HIS MIND YET.

SOMETHING CAME OUT THIS WEEK IN TERMS OF HOW HE MIGHT VOTE ON CONVICTION.

SO THAT'S A BIG CHANGE, AND I'M SURE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF ATTENTION ON HOW HE HANDLES THIS TRIAL.

ONE THING HE DID SAY WAS HE FELT THERE WAS NO CHANCE TO HAVE A FAIR OR SERIOUS TRIAL BEFORE JOE BIDEN WAS INAUGURATED.

BUT THAT IMPLIES THAT HE DOES WANT TO HAVE A FAIR AND SERIOUS TRIAL ABOUT THIS OR AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT IT APPEARS.

BUT WE'LL SEE NEXT WEEK WHEN PRESUMABLY THEY'LL START MOVING ON THAT.

>> Lawrence: WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS POLITICALLY AS WELL, AND YOU MENTIONED THAT, MORGAN, THAT IS THAT McCONNELL HAS SAID HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW HE'LL VOTE, WHICH IS INTERESTING.

HE SEEMS TO NOW BE SEPARATING HYMNS PUBLICALLY FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP AFTER SUPPORTING HIM AND HIS POLICIES FOR FOUR YEARS NOW.

AND THAT SIGNALS THE KIND OF DEBATE AND SOME SAY A RECKONING THAT IS OCCURRING NOW IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, A FIGHT FOR THE DIRECTION IT'S GOING TO GO.

>> Bill: THE VIOLENCE OF LAST WEEK, THE INAUGURATION IS OBVIOUSLY PRESENTED A MAJOR SECURITY CHALLENGE.

JOE BIDEN STILL PLANS TO BE SWORN IN ON THE CAPITOL STEPS OUTSIDE NEXT WEDNESDAY.

THAT HAS REQUIRED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TROOPS TO COME INTO WASHINGTON.

THAT INCLUDES ABOUT 200 GUARDS MEMBERS FROM KENTUCKY WHO WILL BE HELPING SECURE WASHINGTON FOR NEXT WEEK'S EVENTS.

MORGAN, WE'VE SEEN THE IMAGES OF TROOPS ACTUALLY SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR AT THE CAPITOL.

>> Morgan: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I SAW SOME THIS WEEK, AND IT WAS TROOPS SLEEPING UNDER A BUST OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN WHICH YOU JUST -- IT'S INTENSE TO SEE.

THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY IN DC IN TERMS OF TIGHTENING SECURITY IN ADVANCE OF THE INAUGURATION THAT WE HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE ON A LEVEL IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND, YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAID BASICALLY WE HAVE HAD NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS GO TO HELP WITH INAUGURATIONS BEFORE BUT THAT THEY REQUESTED EXTRA TROOPS BECAUSE OF THE RIOT THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK AND THAT HE, OF COURSE, QUICKLY SHELTON.

AT THE SAME TIME HE SAID HE'S GOT NATIONAL GUARDS WHO WILL BE -- MEMBERS WHO WILL BE HELPING HERE IN KENTUCKY, IN FRANKFORT AT THAT CAPITOL BECAUSE THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT THERE COULD BE VIOLENCE OR ARMED PROTESTS AT PRETTY MUCH EVERY STATE CAPITOL IN THE COUNTRY POTENTIALLY LEADING INTO THE INAUGURATION, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH.

THEY HAVE NATIONAL GUARD NBC IN DC AND HERE IN FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY, WITH VERY HEIGHTENED SECURITY AFTER WHAT HAPPENED IN THE U.S. CAPITOL LAST WEEK.

>> >> Lawrence: I JOINTS WANT US TO MISS THIS.

YOU HAVE TROOPS SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR OF THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL, THE SHRINE OF DEMOCRACY, AND YOU HAVE NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS STATIONED THERE BY THE HUNDREDS FOR SECURITY.

THAT'S JUST AN AMAZING THING TO SEE.

>> Bill: IT IS SURREAL, NO DOUBT.

JOHN, LET'S SHIFT BACK TO FRANKFORT.

THE $12 BILLION STATE BUDGET STILL HAS TO BE TACKLED IN THIS SESSION.

THE HOUSE HAS SENT A BILL TO THE SENATE TO GET THE TALKS ROLLING AND THAT'S PRETTY EARLY SO THEY MAY BE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

BUT WILL THAT LEGISLATIVE PLAN BE LEARN THAN THE PROPOSAL FROM GOVERNOR BESHEAR THAT INCLUDED SOME RAISES AND SOME NEW SPENDING?

>> John: IT ALMOST CERTAINLY WILL BE LEANER.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S PROPOSED BUDGET HAD A LOT OF NICE, FUN THINGS IN IT.

PAY RAISES FOR TEACHERS AND PUBLIC WORKERS, MORE MONEY FOR SCHOOLS, PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM, NEW TECHNOLOGY AND REGIONAL OFFICES THAT UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BADLY NEEDED.

BUT IT DEPENDED ON THINGS LIKE A $600 MILLION PLUS IN ONE-TIME FUNDS.

AND A LOT OF THE GOP LAWMAKERS HAVE SAID, LOOK, WE DON'T THINK A COUPLE THINGS, ONE, WE DON'T THINK THE ECONOMY IN 2021 IS NECESSARILY GOING TO BE AS GOOD AS THE GOVERNOR IS FORECASTING IT TO BE.

IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE LEANER.

AND BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ALL OF THE FEDERAL AID COMING THROUGH THE ECONOMY THAT WE DID IN 2020.

AND ALSO THEY SAY THE GOVERNOR SPENDS THAT $600 MILLION IN ONE-TIME FUNDS.

WE DON'T THINK THAT'S SO SMART.

WE THINK MAYBE WE SHOULD -- IF WE EVEN ARE GOING TO HAVE THAT MONEY, MAYBE IT NEEDS TO GO INTO THE RAINY DAY FUND.

MAYBE IT NEEDS TO GO PAY DOWN THE PENSION DEBT.

MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T BE COUNTING ON IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WHATEVER EMERGES FROM THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE LATER NOT SESSION, YOU CAN COUNT ON IT PROBABLY NOT BEING AS GENEROUS-LOOKING FOR AS THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.

ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE, THEY PROBABLY DON'T WANT A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TO GET CREDIT FOR HANDING OUT A BUNCH OF STUFF LIKE PRAISES AND EXTRA SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION MONEY.

SIMILARLY, THE GOVERNOR'S GOT A SEPARATE COVID-19 LEIF PLAN, $240 MILLION.

A LOT OF IT WOULD BE DIRECT AID TO NON-PROFITS AND SMALL BUSINESSES.

THAT DID NOT MOVE THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE IN THE FIRST WEEK.

THE HOUSE HAS KIND OF HELD THAT UP FOR FURTHER STUDY.

AND AGAIN IT SEEMS LOOK A SAFE BET THEY REALLY DON'T WANT GOVERNOR BESHEAR TO GET CREDIT RIGHT NOW FOR HANDING OUT DIRECT AID TO SMALL BUSINESS AND NON-PROFITS.

>> Bill:ION, WHILE YOU'RE HOT, UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ISSUE HAS BEEN ROUGH DURING THE PANDEMIC, TRYING TO GET THE CRUSH OF CLAIMS PROCESSED.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT MANY TIMES HERE.

NOW THE HERALD-LEADER REPORTS MORE THAN 60,000 OF THOSE CLAIMS MAY BE FRAUDULENT AND THERE'S A STORY FROM BETH MUSGRAVE ABOUT A CITY-OWNED THEATER IN LEXINGTON.

>> John: YEAH, MY COLLEAGUE BETH HAD A VERY INTERESTING STORY TODAY.

SO THE DOWNTOWN KENTUCKY THEATER IN LEXINGTON HAD THREE EMPLOYEES, THREE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WHEN IT CLOSED IN OCTOBER, AND IT GOT A LOT OF PUBLICITY WHEN IT CLOSED.

IT WAS ICONIC.

MAYBE WILL OPEN ONE DAY.

WE HOPE IT WILL.

APPARENTLY, AT LEAST 25 PEOPLE WHO DID NOT WORK AT THE KENTUCKY THEATER FILED UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS STAYING THAT THEY DID WORK THERE.

THOSE CLAIMS WENT TO THE STATE AND, OF COURSE, THE KENTUCKY THEATER GOT THE LETTER IN THE MAIL SAYING, HEY, DID THESE PEOPLE WORK THERE?

AND ONE BY ONE BY ONE, ONE OF THE MANAGERS HAS BEEN SAYING NO.

THESE FOLKS NEVER WORKED THERE.

AND IT'S SORT OF AN EXAMPLE THAT OF THE 90,000 PENDING JOBLESS BENEFITS CLAIMS, ALLEGEDLY THERE'S ABOUT UP TO 60,000 THAT MAY BE FRAUDULENT, ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR'S GENERAL COUNSEL.

THAT'S WHAT SHE TOLD BETH.

AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THEM.

ACTUALLY OF THE THREE PEOPLE WHO DID WORK AT THE KENTUCKY THEATER, ONE OF THEM JUST THIS WEEK WAS GETTING THEIR CLAIMS -- THEIR CLAIM PROCESSED BY UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT SYSTEM.

SO THE 25 PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T WORK THERE LEAPFROGGED THE ONE LEGITIMATE CLAIM IN THE PIPELINE SOMEHOW, WHICH SHOWS YOU HOW UNFORTUNATELY SCREWED UP THINGS ARE.

>> Bill: IT HAS BEEN A BIG CHALLENGE.

LAWRENCE, TO FIND OUT THAT SOME OF THESE MAY, IN FACT, BE FAKE CLAIMS JUST ADDS TO THIS WHOLE SCENARIO.

>> Lawrence: THAT'S ONE REASON PROPOSED $15 MILLION TO TRY TO REBUILD THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SYSTEM, UPGRADING TECHNOLOGY AND HIRING SOME PEOPLE BACK THAT WERE LAID OFF YEARS AGO, SO HE WANTS TO SPEND THAT MONEY TO PREVENT THIS KIND OF THING FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.

WE HOPE IT NEVER DOES, THERE'S NEVER A NEED TO, BUT HE WANTS TO SPEND THAT MONEY TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T.

>> Bill: JOHN, A QUICK QUESTION ON THIS.

TWO MEMBERS OF THE KENTUCKY RETIREMENT SYSTEM'S BOARD ANNOUNCES THEIR RESIGNATIONS THIS WEEK.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEHIND THAT.

>> John: RIGHT.

IT'S VERY EASY TO TELL YOU I DON'T KNOW.

THE CHAIRMAN DAVID L. HARRIS AND ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE KENTUCKY RETIREMENT SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES BOTH WERE APPOINTEES BY FORMER GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN.

THEY STILL HAD SOME TIME LEFT IN THEIR TERMS.

THEY ANNOUNCED THEY'RE LEAVING THE BOARD EFFECTIVE APRIL THE 1st.

I REACHED OUT TO CHAIRMAN HARRIS THIS WEEK.

HE'S AN INVESTMENTS THE GUY.

MR. HARRIS NEVER CALLED BACK SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SITUATION IS.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S BILLIONS OF UNFUND LIABILITY AT KRS, A LOT OF PROBLEMS THERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SITUATION IS.

>> Linda: BUNCH LAWRENCE, MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY IS MONDAY, A FEDERAL AND STATE HOLIDAY, AND IT COMES AFTER A YEAR THAT HIGHLIGHTS A LOT OF CONTINUING CHALLENGES.

>> Lawrence: YEAH, IT'S UNFORTUNATELY GOING TO BE REDUCED CELEBRATION OR OBSERVANCE THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF COVID, BUT CERTAINLY THIS YEAR MORE THAN EVER DR. KING'S MESSAGE NEEDS TO BE AMPLIFIED.

>> Bill: 2020 SAW THE RECORD FOR KENTUCKIANS VOTING IN ELECTIONS.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS NOW PROVIDED FINAL NUMBERS IN ANALYSIS.

TURNOUT WAS HIGHER AMONG WOMEN THAN MEN AND MORE REPUBLICANS VOTED THAN DEMOCRATS EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE MORE REGISTERED DEMOCRATS THAN REPUBLICANS.

SOME OBSERVERS THINK THAT THE TRENDLINE COULD INTERSECTED BY LATE THIS YEAR, BY THE WAY, ON REGISTRATION.

YOU CAN LOOK OVER THE ELECTION NUMBERS@ELECT.KY.GOV.

TUNE IN MONDAY AT 8:00 EASTERN SEVEN CENTRAL NOR "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

RENEE SHAW WILL BE HERE AND WILL BE HOSTING A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE DIVISION ACROSS THE U.S.